Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-10-20


a slgay -and u Jolly good hekin tn
told not to-
And Joe, with lightened heart and
a friendly nod, stole back to the shelter
of the paternal roof, reaching his
chamber in safety; while Tad sought
his own little room, where, with a very
full heart, he knelt by his bedside and
thanked the Good Father of all mercies
for the wonderful way in which He had
directed his boyish steps. Then Tad
undressed and went to bed, just as the
tail clock downstairs struck twelve,
and thus ended the day of so many
wonderful events.
Thus, too, my simple story is virtual
" ended-with the future of its charac-
tiers have nothing now to do. AT the
present time
Tad Thorne is an active, growing
boy, of good principles and industrious
habits, a capital scholar, and a source
of constant comfort and companionship
to
Miss Rhoda Smith, who seems to have
grown ten years younger since the
events of which have been writing.
She has formally adopted Tad, and IS
more proud of him even than is
Captain Flagg, who looks upon him.
self-to use his own words-as 1.-the
insterment, under Providence, which
was the means of interducin' Tad to
his Aunt Rhody." He has, at the
earnest request of his wife and adopted
daughter, abandoned his perilous call
ing, and turned over the command of
the coaster to Ephraim-now Cap'n
Small.
Polly Flagg is growing up into one
of the incest girls l ever knew. That
she has never been able to discover any
| thing further as to her parentage
| gives her no uneasiness-in fact, she
gives it little thought, being healthy,
sensible young miss, with no romantic
fancies as to "mysterious birthrights'
and the like. She is trying to live so
that in the fullness of Gods time
she shall meet her own angel mother,
who so long ago was laid under the
| daisies which nod above the green
mounds. jim Bixport church-yard. Mean
while, her love for good Mrs. Flagg
and the Captain grows even stronger
as the days go on; while they, on their
part, know no difference between Polly
and child of their own flesh and
blood. And that Polly and Tad are the
best of friends goes without saying,
! while they seem to exercise a sort OF
Joint proprietorship in Bounce, who
grows bigger, more affectionate, know
ing and gruf-voiced every week,
while
Joe Whitney is really getting to be
more tractable and less mischievOus;
and since the deacon discovered some
how that his son came very near for
saking the paternal roof, it is said he is
not nearly as severe with him. particu-
larly after knowing that Joe's inten-
ton in running away was not only
to escape the parental chastisement,
but that he might adopt the hazardous
calling Of
Detective Blossom, who received g
substantial reward for his capture Of
Jones-Edwards- Forrest, now serv-
ing the State for his many misdeeds, and
thus having abundant opportunity for
reflection. Let us hope that, realizing
by actual experience that the way OF
the uansgressor is hard, he will, when
released from imprisonment, turn over
new leaf, and lead an honest life aft
erward.
Thus my little amateur drama of in
cidents in real life has drawn to a close.
And now with the principal actors,
who hand in hand step before the foot
lights, let me make my own bow to an
imaginary audience for their ''kind in
diligence" and, stepping back, allow
the curtain to fall upon the final act OF
| IILE AnNENZTI-REs OF TAn